this site usually features my holiday adventures

On the expedition ship Silver Cloud we travelled from Tower Bridge around numerous islands off England, Wales, The Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland before returning to Tower Bridge. This took three and a half weeks in May-June 2018. Here are a few glimpses of places visited on islands and mainland.

Leaving the city behind

Greenwich

Cutty Sark

Millennium Dome

Tower Bridge opens for us

The Thames Barrier

Sunrise over Guernsey

Dinner with Norman & Maureen while moored alongside the Belfast, the evening before we set off down the Thames, having had Tower Bridge open to let us through.

Click on any of the pictures to activate a slideshow.

First Zodiak ride

Celebrating Liberation

Silversmith’s art

Jewellery display

East window

Liberation Day 70th.anniversary

St.Peter Port

Parish Church

Little church in the woods

St.Peter Port, Guernsey, liberation anniversary celebrations in church and town and amazing visit to a gold and silversmiths.

Scillonian 111

Town beach

From the Atlantic

Hugh Town

St.Mary’s Church

Typical Scilly

Alfred Hick’s Pettifox

The Isles of Scilly, around Hugh Town on St.Mary’s and then the subtropical gardens on Tresco.

In the Republic of Ireland, Kells Bay Garden, The Ring of Kerry and Zodiak ride around Little Skellig and Skellig Michael with remains of an ancient monastery and wonderful bird watching. Exciting return to the ship.

Moored in Galway Bay and then zodiaked ashore for a very memorable tour around beautiful Connemara, including ta visit to the exquisite Kylemore Abbey.

David went to Inis Mor in the Aran Islands and climbed to the ancient fortress on the cliff top. I stayed behind but he brought me back an Aran pompom hat.

In the evening we visited Clare Island where we heard the history of Grace O’Malley who conversed in Latin with Queen Elizabeth, made friends with the parish priest and were entertained at the Sailors Pub with singing, story telling and Irish dancing, Sharon befriended us.

Walked into Killibegs, visited beautifully restored church and Donegal Tweed carpet factory. Then via the Wild Atlantic Way to Glencomcille where an imaginative and courageous priest rejuvenated a failing village and created an amazing Folk Village Museum.

Portrush, Northern Ireland, toured the lovely Antrim Coast to the Giant’s Causeway, then Dunluce Castle on the clifftop.

Celebrity Eclipse

St.Patrick’s cathedral

St.Patrick

Guiness Window!

Dean Swift’s travelling pulpit

Yoga in the park

Abortion referendum

Captain at ease

View from the after deck

The first cruise ended in Dublin. We took a tour around the city including much time in St.Patrick’s (Anglican) Cathedral. Many posters anticipating the abortion referendum, also yoga in Phoenix Park. Lunch on the Pool Deck alongside the Captain.

Castle at Castletown

Harbour at Castletown

Preparations for the TT Races

Silver Cloud off the Prom

Electric tram

Horse drawn tram

Meeting Charlie

On the Isle of Man, took train from Douglas to Port Ellin (with much local food) and then bus back via Castleton. Horse drawn tram along the waterfront.

The Abbey

Back on his feet

The Nunnery

Wet Wendy with Imogen

Silver Cloud

Columbus leaving Ireland

Highland cattle

David reading Luke

The cloisters

Looking East

The sedelia

The sanctuary

Wild Goose banner

In Scotland, first landfall on a very wet Iona. Service in the Abbey where David read the lesson. Enjoyed highland cattle for the first time.

Nesting shag

A pair of shags

Oyster catcher

Thrift & lichens

Shag alert

More puffins

Wonderful puffins

Nesting puffin

Tricky landings

David enjoyed wonderful close ups of very tame birds on Lunga in the Treshnish Islands. I was put off by the difficult terrain. Weather improved later in the day.

Sunrise over Skye

From Oban by tender and coach via Connel to Tyndrum. Then over Rannoch Moor, through Glencoe finally reaching Fort William for buffet lunch. Then on the Jacobite Train, stopping at Glenfinnen and on to Mallaig to meet the ship.

Skye Bridge

Return journey

Gorse everywhere

Moored in Portree

Eilean Donan

Portree

Approaching Portree

Proceeded from Mallaig to Portree on Skye, drive through to Kyle of Lochalsh and the Skye Bridge. Mainland drive to the wonderful Eilean Donan Castle. Stayed outside and photographed and shopped. Returned to the ship via Dunollie Hotel and dined at the Captain’s Table.

Guillemots & spectacled guillemots

Pink agae

Flying puffins

Exploring the village

Soay sheep

Gannet colony

Flying gannets

The archipelago

Zoomed around the cliffs of St.Kilda by zodiak identifying puffins, guillemots, razorbills, gannets and skuas, then landed on Hirta, no longer inhabited, but with numerous ancient cleits and cottages, a kirk and school buildings. Numerous Soay sheep and MOD installation. Later ship cruised among the islands, stacks and sea bird colonies.

East window

St.Magnus Cathedral

At Italian Chapel

Chapel built by POWs

Story of St.Magnus

Scarpa Flow with Churchill Barriers & oil tankers

Looking east

Overlooking Kirkwall

Superb interior painting & screen

Oil Tanker

WW1 block ship

Reached Orkney, coach tour to Scarpa Flow, the amazing Italian Chapel, Burray village and then to Kirkwall Cathedral and shops.

In the evening we were entertained on board with wonderful Scottish dancing and story telling. David joined the dancing!

On Shetland, crossed to the south and climbed Sunburgh Head enjoying nesting birds. Then visited Jalshof, multilayed excavated remains from Neolithic to Middle Ages. David saw more seabirds and caves on Nos in the afternoon.

Hospitality & sales at the Community Hall

Meeting Saskia

Mechanism for hauling the ferry out

Arriving on the island

Going to th Kirk

Inside the Kirk

Ladies Smock

Freya, Grace, teacher, the rest of the school

The island ferry

Cruise round the cliffs

Birdwatching

We much enjoyed Fair Isle between Orkney & Shetland. Warm welcome at the Community Hall, food, knitwear, crafts and sales. Met the whole school, three girls plus teacher. Walked to interesting Kirk with progressive library & fine windows. Toured the cliffs by zodiak on return to ship.

Aberdeen seafront

More hot chocolate

Balmoral Castle

Welcome from the crew

Special meal in the special restaurant

Reached Aberdeen and had great stroll along the seafront. Tour along Deeside via Ballater to lunch and shops at Braemar. Visited Balmoral, only ballroom open, extensive grounds. Received with great welcome from the crew, then dined in La Dame Restaurant, recompense for slight flooding of our suite. Fog started to roll in.

Fogbound in Aberdeen, prevented from leaving as Harbour Master closed the port. We visited the Winter Garden in Duthie Park. Beautiful sail away when fog cleared, but alas missed Eyemouth and visits to Lindisfarne and Alnwick.

Docked in Hull, drove across rather misty Wolds through Beverley to Castle Howard. Amazing Vanburgh architecture, fire damage, use in Brideshead TV series and film. Great welcome on the quayside from locals with food and jazz.

Arrived in Dover and transported to Canterbury Cathedral, over run with French school parties, too busy for comfort. So much to see, must return. Photos of Dover Castle on return.

Once docked beside the Belfast in London again, found access to the South Bank difficult. Eventually reached Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral on our own. David was ordained there 50 years ago. Met Doorkiss the Magnificat, resident Moggie. Finally entertained at the Royal Geographical Society in Kensington, lecture about Hurley, Shakleton’s photographer, displays and reception. Then back to pack. Home next morning.